Dems’ lead grows in Morris Township; Morris County election workers keep counting

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Election Day +1 showed no major changes for Greater Morristown races, except, perhaps in Morris Township.

The Democratic team of Mayor Cathy Wilson and Bud Ravitz widened their leads over GOP challengers Sandi Garcia and Joe Calvanelli Jr. for the Township committee, according to numbers posted Wednesday afternoon by the Morris County Clerk’s Office.

Wilson’s latest tally was 4,061, with Ravitz next at 3,914. Garcia had 2,564 votes, and Calvanelli, 3,532 2,532. The candidates are vying for a pair of three-year seats on the governing body.

Morris Township Mayor Cathy Wilson at Convent Station protest of pre-election Postal Service cuts by the Trump Administration, Aug. 21, 2020. Photo by Tyler Barth

Wilson said Wednesday she was “very encouraged and…truly grateful,” but was not rushing to call the race.

“While I am optimistic that Bud and I headed for victory, the best way forward is for everyone to understand that, as expected, the process of counting the ballots will take several days to complete. Large numbers of mail-in ballots that came in close to Election Day are still being counted,” the mayor said.

“Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day have yet to arrive by the Nov. 10th deadline. The count of the Provisional ballots that were cast on Election Day cannot even begin until Nov. 11th. Let’s all give this process the patience and respect it deserves.”

The most recent figures posted by NJ Spotlight showed Democratic challenger Rupande Mehta holding an 821-vote edge — 51 percent to 49 percent–over state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco in a special election in the 25th District. The Republican Bucco was appointed last year to the Senate seat of his late father.

Democrat Rupande Mehta, top right, and GOP state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco (R-25th Dist.) and moderator Michelle Bobrow, at virtual debate hosted by the League of Women Voters and the NAACP, Oct. 23, 2020. Screenshot by Jamie Lynn Connors

On the Assembly side, Democrat Darcy Draeger held a 2,334-vote advantage — 52 percent to 48 percent–over Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, who was appointed to the seat vacated by Bucco when he got the Senate appointment.

Top L-R: Moderator Michelle Bobrow, Democratic candidate Darcy Draeger and state Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-25th Dist.) at League of Women Voters virtual debate, Oct. 23, 2020. Screenshot by Marion Filler.

However, many votes remain to be counted in this all-paper, pandemic election.

Some 390,000 ballots were mailed to voters in Morris County, according to county Clerk Ann Grossi. Approximately 118,000 had been counted as of Wednesday afternoon, said Dale Kramer, county elections administrator.

The counting began on Oct. 24, 2020.

About five times as many ballots have been arriving daily from drop boxes as via mail– about 10,000 collected from the boxes vs. 2,000 delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, Kramer said.

Approximately 1,800 ballots also have arrived electronically from soldiers and others overseas. That may be a record, said Brian Hamilton of the county Board of Elections. “I don’t know if we’ve ever broken 1,000 before,” he said.

Once considered a rock-solid red county, Democrats have been narrowing the gap. Morris now has 112,127 registered Democrats, 133,415 registered Republicans and 140,551 unaffiliated voters, according to Kramer’s records.

Four years ago, the Daily Record reported there were only 70,605 registered Democrats, with 113,704 registered Republicans and 149,132 unaffiliated voters in Morris .

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2 COMMENTS

  1. I’m guessing that Calvanelli has 2,532 – not 3,532. Otherwise it wouldn’t be nearly as good for the Dems. Probably just a typo, thanks for the update!

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